The story of a bite.

[AaronP]

This is a very detailed story so if it's too long for you, enjoy the pictures and read the cliff notes at the end of the post.

In March 2008 I was two years younger, or as some would say, two years dumber. I had only kept Ball Pythons, corn snakes, and had a new Baby Borneo short tail in my collection. My interest in snakes had exploded in late 2007 after an unfortunate passing of my normal Ball Python "Liquid" had opened my eyes to dozens of species and just as many Ball Python Morphs.

Well one particular weekend early in March I found myself at the Richmond Reptile Expo in Richmond, VA. Little did I know that that was one of the most important shows I would attend, for more than one reason but this story focuses on one specific part of this show, the first part of the show. I was helping a friend who owned a local pet store get setup before the show got started. After getting him setup I decided to take a pre-show stroll to see what everyone had. Behind us was Outback Reptiles whom had dozens of snakes and all sorts of different species. In front of us was a Reticulated Python Breeder, and behind them was Jon Courtney of Cold Blooded Addiction and to the right of them was this "kid" with two carpet pythons and various Leopard Geckos.

There was a Male Pure Jungle Carpet Python and a Female Pure Jungle Carpet and I couldn't take my eyes off of them. It was the first time that I had ever seen carpet pythons in person and I was mesmorized. I asked the "kid" how much he wanted for them "$150 for the Male, and $300 for the female or $400 for the pair". I didn't have the money in my pocket or the space in my apartment for both but I definitely wanted at least one of them. I talked to this "kid" about the husbandry of Carpets while I was making the decision of whether to buy one after getting a brief over view I had made up my mind, I just had to have one. I decided to try holding the male, at first he was calm but started to get very wiggly, I let him run through my arms for a little while before putting him in a pillow case and plopping down $150 for him.

See this "kid" had kept them in 20 gallon tanks their entire life and had actually successfully gotten two clutches out of the female, unfortunately the eggs never made it full term, I would later find out it was because this "kid" didn't know anything about incubation and kept screwing with the eggs.

That was my first mistake. I bought a snake out of excitement, one that was a species I had absolutely no experience with and I was still new to species that were not Ball Pythons, I would guesstimate that I had 10% of the knowledge I have now, and that's being generous.

After making my purchase we put my new snake in a pillow case and I proceeded to continue browsing all of the vendors, specifically Jon Courtney of Cold Blooded Addiction. After a couple of hours I decided to head out and from the show but first I had to scramble to acquire the bedding and heating elements I would need for my new snake. From there I went straight to Target and bought the largest clear tub I could buy. This was my second mistake. I again was not prepared for this snake, so he had to patiently wait while I set up his new home.

After setting up his home I put him in and watched him for a little while, he explored his new enclosure and moved at a very rapid pace, I'd never seen a snake that big move at the rate he was! To say the least it was very intimidating. After a few moments I made sure he was securely in his new home and headed to work for the night.

The next day I decided that I wanted to pull him out, however unlike the time before he wasn't calm at all in fact he looked like he was going to strike me at any moment! In my inexperience I was extremely nervous and in my stupidity/ignorance picked him up fast and just let him run wild, and boy did he! He was all over the place, and I could barely keep up with him. After he calmed down a little I decided to put him, bundled up, on my couch while I went to get a drink, this was my third mistake.

Upon returning with my coke in hand Auzzie (the name I had given him) was in striking position! After distracting him with a roll of paper towels I was able to pick him up and put him back in his cage. I was starting to wonder if I had made a serious mistake in acquiring Auzzie. Now even though Auzzie looked like he was in striking position he actually did not try to strike.

A few hours later, eager to acclimate my new snake to my handling I pulled him out again. And again he was all over the place! In an effort to calm him down I tried holding more of him and unintentionally "hugged" him. That was my fourth mistake. Auzzie freaked out and in his panic he bit the first part of my body that he could, and that was my NECK!

Completely caught off guard and terrified I put Auzzie back in his tub and rushed to the bathroom to review my "wound".

Here is what I found:




Thoroughly freaked out I realized that I was going to be fine and cleaned up my "wound" and began to seriously doubt if I should keep Auzzie.

A few days later I received a trade offer from a fellow snake owner for a Het. Albino Ball Python male for Auzzie. This guy had a lot more experience with various snake species and actually already had carpets so I knew it'd be a good home for him. Later that week we completed the transaction.

Fast Forward two months later and my friend Ryan had acquired the Female Jungle Carpet from the same "kid" whom I got the Male from and he later purchased the male from the guy I traded Auzzie since the guy decided he had enough males as is. Ryan had more experience with big snakes than I had so I figured he'd do well and he did. Ryan was able to get them to breed and even got a decent size clutch of eggs that made it full term.

Because Ryan was a good friend of mine I got to continue interacting with Auzzie and I gradually learned that he wasn't going to strike that's just how he was. And that "wild" movement? If you just let him crawl through your arms he would stay there and just keep roaming and would even let you pet him. As long as you didn't try to "hug" him he remained completely calm. I was so disappointed in myself for making such a stupid mistake but I wasn't ready for a snake like Auzzie so I felt it was for the best.

A few months after trading Auzzie I moved back to Atlanta, GA. That's when I joined Ball-Pythons.net and expanded my knowledge of Ball Pythons and is also when I met some of my best friends and favorite people in the world. I acquired a few more Ball Python and gained a large amount of knowledge from my new friends and began to work with best breeders in the US on web development projects which gave me yet another gate way to knowledge. All the time I was wondering how Auzzie was doing and the more I learned the more I regretted trading Auzzie.

Well a couple of months ago I started a new job that gave me a little more disposable income so I contacted my friend Ryan, whom I had loosely kept in contact with, to see if he still had Auzzie. To my amazement he had traded Auzzie for some guitar equipment after his landlord said that he had to get rid of the snakes or he'd lose his apartment.

But luck would have it that the guy who got Auzzie had a girlfriend who didn't want him to have such a "large" snake and forced him to get rid of him, and where did he take him? To my friend whom owned the petshop! Upon learning this I immediately put down a small down payment to secure him.

Today I put down the remaining amount and will have Auzzie in my ownership Thursday, this time for good.

It's amazing how much changes in two years and how much you learn and change. The really ironic part is that Auzzie is the last snake I bought in 2008 and is the first snake I have bought in two years. I have since acquired more snakes but I was able to barter for them.

I can't wait for Thursday to come so I can start over with Auzzie.

Here's a couple of pictures that I snapped of him while I had him:






Cliff Notes:
I bought a snake
I was stupid and didn't know how to handle him.
I traded him.
I regret it.
I ended up re-acquiring him through a stroke of luck.

[CoolioTiffany]

This is one crazy story! So glad you're getting him back, these snakes are just awesome. I would love to have one sometime in the future.

At least you got back the snake you regretting trading. I had bought this Dumeril's boa female on November 22, 2008 at the reptile expo. To this day I regret taking her to a reptile store for store credit to get supplies for my snakes. She was the sweetest thing ever and she was so gentle. That is the first snake I ever regret giving away. I wish I could find her somehow and get her back, and I still wonder what has happened to her or if she is even alive.

[BPelizabeth]

that is quite the story. You got a snake hickie..

[NightLad]

Wow! As far as snake acquisition goes, that story is rather epic. Saga worthy, even! I guess it just goes to show that when something is meant to be, it was meant to be.

Gratz on getting your boy back. He is a real stunner. Please post more pics of him when you pick him up.

Nice writing, too.

[wilomn]

Cool. Weird how things work out sometimes.

[AaronP]

Got the boy in this morning. He's acclimating to his new home and is getting ready to shed . I'll get pictures after he sheds.

[j_h_smith]

You may want to play the lottery today. Seems like you're a lucky guy!

Jim Smith

[AaronP]

You may want to play the lottery today. Seems like you're a lucky guy!

Jim Smith

Actually Funny Story: I bought a lottery ticket last night with a $1 bill that's been in my wallet for months, but I never use cash so I decided to just buy a lottery ticket while I was picking up some stuff from a convenience store.

[j_h_smith]

Actually Funny Story: I bought a lottery ticket last night with a $1 bill that's been in my wallet for months, but I never use cash so I decided to just buy a lottery ticket while I was picking up some stuff from a convenience store.

Stranger things have happened. Good Luck and remember your very best friend in the whole wide world, ME.

Jim Smith